Key Points

• This no-annual-fee card earns unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, making it one of the simplest business travel cards to manage.
• Bank of America business banking customers can boost earnings by up to 75% through Preferred Rewards for Business, reaching an effective 2.62 points per dollar.
• The welcome bonus of 30,000 points (worth $300 in travel) after spending $3,000 in 90 days delivers solid first-year value without requiring category juggling.

Introduction

Finding a business travel card that doesn't overcomplicate things is tougher than it should be. Most options either charge hefty annual fees, lock you into specific bonus categories, or both. The Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard takes a different approach: flat-rate earning, no annual fee, and genuine upside potential if you're already banking with BofA.

For small business owners who want straightforward travel rewards without tracking rotating categories or justifying a $400 annual fee, this card deserves consideration. But is the simplicity worth the tradeoff in earning potential? Let's break down whether this card earns a spot in your wallet.

Quick Summary

Best For: Small business owners who want simple travel rewards and Bank of America banking customers

Standout Benefit: Up to 2.62 points per dollar when combined with Preferred Rewards for Business (75% bonus)

Biggest Drawback: Base earning rate of 1.5 points per dollar lags behind category-specific business cards

Current Offer: 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days (worth $300 in travel statement credits)

Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards Overview

Bank of America's Business Advantage Travel Rewards card sits in a specific niche: business owners who want hassle-free travel rewards without annual fees. You won't find airport lounge access or premium travel credits here. Instead, you get consistent earning across all purchases and straightforward redemption options.

The card offers a 30,000-point welcome bonus after spending $3,000 within 90 days of account opening. That's worth $300 when redeemed as statement credits toward travel or dining purchases. While not the highest business card bonus available, it's genuinely attainable for most small businesses within the timeframe.

New cardholders also receive a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first nine billing cycles, then a variable APR of 17.24% to 27.24%. This gives you breathing room for large business purchases without immediate interest charges.

Earning Travel Rewards

The earning structure couldn't be simpler: 1.5 points per dollar on everything. No spending caps, no category restrictions, no mental math required. Whether you're buying office supplies, paying for advertising, or covering a client dinner, every dollar earns the same rate.

When you book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center, that rate jumps to 3 points per dollar. If you spend $30,000 annually on travel through the portal, you'd earn 90,000 points compared to 45,000 if booking directly with airlines and hotels.

Here's where things get interesting. Bank of America Preferred Rewards for Business members can boost these earning rates significantly. The program has three tiers based on your combined average daily balance in qualifying Bank of America business deposit and Merrill business investment accounts:

Gold (requires $20,000+ balance): 25% bonus, earning 1.875 points per dollar base / 3.75 points per dollar on Travel Center bookings

Platinum (requires $50,000+ balance): 50% bonus, earning 2.25 points per dollar base / 4.5 points per dollar on Travel Center bookings

Platinum Honors (requires $100,000+ balance): 75% bonus, earning 2.62 points per dollar base / 5.25 points per dollar on Travel Center bookings

Let's put this in context. Say your business spends $60,000 annually on various expenses and $5,000 booking travel through the Bank of America Travel Center. Without Preferred Rewards, you'd earn 105,000 points. With Platinum Honors status, that jumps to 183,750 points. That's an extra 78,750 points ($787.50 in statement credit value) just for maintaining the banking relationship.

Redeeming Your Points

Bank of America keeps redemptions straightforward. You can use points as statement credits toward travel or dining purchases that have already posted to your account. This covers airlines, hotels, car rentals, parking, tolls, restaurants, bars, and more.

Points are worth one cent each when redeemed this way, which is standard for statement credit redemptions. There's no transfer partners option here. If you're looking to move points to airline or hotel programs for potentially higher value, you'll need to look elsewhere.

You can also book travel directly through the Bank of America Travel Center and pay with points. Redemptions start at 2,500 points (equal to $25). The redemption process is simple: purchase travel as usual, then request a statement credit to offset the charge.

One significant advantage: no blackout dates or seat restrictions. Your points offset any travel purchase, giving you flexibility that transfer partners sometimes can't match when award availability is tight.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Zero annual fee makes this easy to keep long-term, even if it becomes a backup card. You're not calculating whether benefits justify the cost each year.
• The 1.5 points per dollar base rate applies to everything without caps or category restrictions. You earn consistently whether spending $50 or $50,000.
• Preferred Rewards for Business can deliver elite-card earning rates (2.62 points per dollar) without elite-card annual fees. If you already maintain six figures in BofA business accounts, this effectively becomes a premium card.
• The 0% intro APR on purchases for nine billing cycles gives runway for larger business investments without immediate interest charges.
• No foreign transaction fees means you can use this internationally without the 3% surcharge most cards charge.

Cons

• The base 1.5 points per dollar trails category-specific cards significantly. The Ink Business Cash earns 5% (5 points per dollar) at office supply stores and on internet/phone services. The Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar on a broader range of business categories.
• No transfer partners limits redemption flexibility. You're locked into statement credits at one cent per point, while transfer options could deliver 1.5 to 2 cents per point or more in value.
• Travel benefits are minimal compared to premium business credit cards. You get basic travel insurance coverage, but nothing approaching the lounge access, travel credits, or elite status benefits of cards with annual fees.
• The Preferred Rewards for Business bonus requires substantial banking relationships. Earning that 75% bonus means keeping $100,000+ in qualifying accounts, which isn't realistic for every small business.
• The intro APR doesn't apply to balance transfers, only new purchases. If you're looking to consolidate business debt, you'll need a different card.

How It Compares to Alternatives

The closest competitor is the Ink Business Unlimited, which also earns a flat 1.5% cash back on everything with no annual fee. The Ink card currently offers a $900 bonus after spending $6,000 in three months (compared to $300 for $3,000 here) and provides a longer 0% intro APR period of 12 months.

The key difference? The Ink card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners. If you have other Chase business cards or personal cards in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, you can pool points and transfer them for potentially much higher value than one cent each.

The BofA card wins if you already bank with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards. That 75% earning boost puts it ahead of the Ink Business Unlimited's flat rate. But without that banking relationship, the Ink card's transfer flexibility gives it an edge.

For business owners who prefer simplicity over optimization and don't want to manage transfer partners, the American Express Blue Business Plus earns 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 in combined purchases annually (then 1 point per dollar). It also has no annual fee and a 0% intro APR period. Membership Rewards points offer more redemption flexibility than Bank of America points, though they still don't match the simplicity of flat cash back.

If you're willing to pay an annual fee, cards like the Ink Business Preferred ($95 annual fee, 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories) or Capital One Spark Miles for Business ($95 annual fee, unlimited 2 miles per dollar) offer stronger base earning rates. But they require justifying that annual cost through sufficient spending.

Who Should Get This Card

This card makes the most sense for three specific groups:

Existing Bank of America business banking customers. If you already maintain qualifying balances for Preferred Rewards for Business, this card becomes significantly more attractive. The Platinum Honors tier effectively gives you a 2.62 points per dollar card with no annual fee. That's rare.

Small business owners with diverse spending across many categories. If your business doesn't fit neatly into common bonus categories like office supplies or advertising, the flat 1.5 points per dollar means you're not leaving rewards on the table. You earn consistently regardless of where you spend.

Business owners who want simplicity over optimization. Some people don't want to track quarterly bonus categories, manage multiple cards for different spending types, or learn the ins and outs of transfer partners. This card delivers straightforward value: spend money, get points, use points for travel. No spreadsheets required.

Not Ideal For:

Business owners who don't bank with Bank of America and can't access Preferred Rewards. Without that earning boost, the base 1.5 points per dollar is merely adequate, not compelling.

Heavy spenders in specific business categories. If you spend tens of thousands annually at office supply stores, on internet services, or on advertising, category-specific cards will deliver significantly more value.

Points enthusiasts who want to maximize redemption value through transfers. This card locks you into one cent per point redemptions. If you're comfortable navigating airline and hotel award charts, other cards offer more upside.

FAQ

Can I transfer Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards points to airline or hotel programs?

No, Bank of America points don't transfer to travel partners. You can only redeem them as statement credits against travel or dining purchases, or book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center. If transfer flexibility is important to you, consider Chase Ultimate Rewards cards or American Express Membership Rewards cards instead.

How does Preferred Rewards for Business work, and do I qualify?

Preferred Rewards for Business is Bank of America's tiered rewards program for business banking customers. You automatically qualify if you have an active Bank of America business checking account and maintain a three-month combined average daily balance of at least $20,000 across qualifying Bank of America business deposit accounts and Merrill business investment accounts. Higher balance tiers ($50,000+ for Platinum, $100,000+ for Platinum Honors) earn larger rewards bonuses. Enrollment is automatic once you meet the criteria.

Do Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards points expire?

No, points don't expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. If you close the account, you'll typically need to redeem remaining points before the closure date. Bank of America generally provides notice and a redemption window before forfeiting points.

Can I use this card for balance transfers?

Yes, but the 0% intro APR doesn't apply to balance transfers, only new purchases. You'll pay the standard variable APR (currently 17.24% to 27.24%) on any balance transfers immediately. If you're specifically looking to consolidate existing business debt with a 0% intro rate, consider dedicated balance transfer cards instead.

Is the 30,000-point welcome bonus difficult to earn?

Not for most small businesses. You need to spend $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. That's $1,000 per month, which typical business expenses (internet, phones, supplies, advertising, client meals) usually cover easily. The bonus applies to all purchases regardless of category, so you don't need to time large expenses or change your spending patterns.

Final Verdict

The Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards card thrives in a specific context. If you're a Bank of America business banking customer with qualifying account balances, this becomes one of the best no-annual-fee business travel cards available. The Preferred Rewards earning boost is genuine added value that transforms a decent card into a genuinely good one.

For everyone else, it's perfectly serviceable but rarely the best choice. The flat 1.5 points per dollar is easy to manage but doesn't compete with category bonuses from other no-annual-fee business cards. The lack of transfer partners caps your redemption value at one cent per point.

Get this card if you already bank with BofA and can access Preferred Rewards, or if you strongly prefer simplicity over optimization. Skip it if you're comfortable managing multiple cards for category bonuses or want the flexibility of transferable points programs.

The bottom line: This is the rare card that's genuinely excellent for a specific audience (BofA banking customers) and merely okay for everyone else. Know which group you're in before applying.

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